The 2019 NFL draft is in the books, and while the Chicago Bears didn’t have a first- or second-round pick this year, general manager Ryan Pace still managed to add several impact players to the roster who are capable of contributing right away as rookies.
The running back narrative that surrounded the Bears leading up to the draft proved true as Pace used the team’s first selection, No. 73 overall, for Iowa State’s David Montgomery. He dialed up his buddies in New England to trade up 14 spots for the former Cyclones running back, advancing his already established track record of doing whatever’s necessary to acquire talented players.
There were some surprise picks, like Georgia WR Riley Ridley in the fourth round, and there were some lesser-known defensive backs added to provide depth and upside to the secondary.
When all was said and done, the Bears had a good day. Here are our grades for Chicago’s draft haul.
Round 3, Pick No. 73: David Montgomery, RB, Iowa State
When the 2019 NFL draft began, few if any analysts would’ve expected Montgomery to last until the Bears’ selection at No. 87. And maybe he wouldn’t have, as a run on the running back position started in the early portion of the third round.
Ryan Pace didn’t take any chances, however, and traded with the Patriots to make sure the Bears secured a player who instantly becomes the most talented running back on the roster.
Montgomery is a true three-down back with elite contact balance who plays very much like former Chiefs RB Kareem Hunt, who Matt Nagy helped become the NFL’s leading rusher as a rookie in 2017.
There’s literally nothing not to like about this selection. Chicago’s running back room now has Montgomery, Mike Davis, Tarik Cohen, Ryan Nall, Taquon Mizzell and Kerrith Whyte (who we touch on later). A fantastic training camp battle is shaping up.
That said, Montgomery will be the featured back and a three-down weapon for Nagy and the Bears. To land an impact-player like that in the third round is nothing short of a home run.
GRADE: A
Round 4, No. 126: Riley Ridley, WR, Georgia
Ryan Pace threw a bit of a curveball in the fourth round with the selection of Ridley, who now joins a crowded wide receiver group that includes Allen Robinson, Taylor Gabriel, Anthony Miller, Cordarrelle Patterson and Javon Wims. Patterson is expected to be more of a gadget player, but Ridley’s ability to make an immediate impact in 2019 appears blocked right now.
Pace always has an eye toward the future, however. And Ridley, assuming he outplays Wims (which is no guarantee, by the way), is an appealing future starter to pair with Robinson and Miller. Even if he doesn’t unseat Wims as a future starter, Chicago now possesses a deep and talented wide receiver corps that will give Mitch Trubisky playmaking options if an injury bug strikes.
Ridley had a wide range of scouting reports entering the NFL draft, the majority of which viewed him as an above-average route runner who understands the nuance of playing wide receiver. He has a my-ball mentality and, as he put it, wins 100% of the 50-50 balls. His pedestrian speed will create challenges to separate against NFL corners, but as an intermediate target and red zone weapon, he should be just fine.
GRADE: C+
Round 6, No. 205: Duke Shelley, CB, Kansas State
The Bears finally addressed their need at cornerback in the sixth round with the selection of Shelley, whose 2018 season was cut short by a toe injury. He was limited to just seven games and never really built up the kind of pre-draft buzz the analytics suggest he deserved.
Shelley earned an 89.9 grade from Pro Football Focus in 2018, a score that ranked him among the top-10 cornerbacks in FBS. He had the highest coverage grade from PFF in the Big 12 conference.
So while Shelley might not be a household name, he certainly has a resume of production as a coverage corner that should have Bears fans excited. He feels like the kind of late-round gem Ryan Pace has become known to find.
GRADE: B
Round 7, No. 222: Kerrith Whyte, RB, FAU
Whyte was the primary backup for fellow Florida Atlantic running back Devin Singletary, but he’s a quality prospect in his own right who was projected to be drafted right where the Bears selected him.
Whyte is speedster who clocked a 4.37 40-yard dash at his pro day and brings special teams ability to a Chicago roster that can use a home-run hitter in the return game. He’s also a pretty darn good playmaker with the ball in his hands. Whyte has a great chance to make the final roster as Tarik Cohen’s backup; he’ll be the top speed-back reserve.
GRADE: B
Round 7, No. 238: Stephen Denmark, CB, Valdosta State
Denmark is a huge cornerback at 6-3, 220 pounds who runs like the wind. He registered a 4.46 40-yard dash and a mind-boggling 43-inch vertical jump at his pro day, results that make him one of the most explosive and elite athletes at his position.
After beginning his college career as a wide receiver, Denmark made the switch to defense in 2018 and with pro coaching and development could turn into an absolutely scary steal. He’s a massive (no pun intended) projection at this point, but that’s exactly the kind of player you roll the dice on in the seventh round.
